Staff Safety: 3 Key Issues in OHS Practices

The Australian government highlights occupational health & safety as a major concern all-year round. There are different laws that protect the employees against the risks they face on a daily basis.

Critics have derided these measures as an obsession, but apparently, these obsessions have worked to reduce the number of fatalities throughout the country. Based on the latest figures from Safe Work Australia, there has only been 16 fatalities in the country as of February 10, 2015. Compared to the data from the past years, this is quite lower.

But despite the measures, some businesses still stumble in ensuring that all employees are working in safe environments. Most commonly, companies fail in these aspects:

Lack of Coordination

OHS is a collaborative effort between the management and the workforce. The problem is that many managers fail to realise this. In effect, the higher ups draft policies that are not exactly in line with what the employees do. Without proper coordination with the staff, those who draft the policies leave out certain crucial areas of workplace safety. To address this, businesses have to draft policies based on the input from both the managers and the employees.

Inadequate Training

Training and awareness are two pillars of occupational health and safety. A company cannot survive on policies and protocols alone. There has to be concrete action from the management to make the rest of the workforce aware of the safety standards of the company. This is why it’s important for businesses to conduct routine trainings and seminars tailored according to the safety risks present in the company’s trade and location.

Insufficient Resources

Lastly, many companies skimp on resources that promote OHS. Some managers fail to buy take 5 safety books, signs, and manuals for their employees. This is a big mistake, as the staff members need these things to be safer as they go about their daily tasks. Every business should have the right resources to promote OHS, otherwise the policies and trainings wouldn’t be as effective as expected.

These issues, though common, are avoidable. With proper measures, companies can make sure that their business runs a comprehensive OHS policy without any of these glaring issues. As much of a hassle as this may seem, it’s all worth it in the end.